Methods and apparatus for managing online poker tournaments allowing joint play between users posting differing buy-in amounts

Abstract

Techniques for managing an online poker tournament include receiving data transmissions indicating buy-in amounts to participate in the online poker tournament from a plurality of client devices, with buy-in amounts received from first and second client devices being different from buy-in amounts received from third and fourth client devices. The first, second, third, and fourth client devices may be associated in a first set, and the third and fourth client devices may be associated in a second set. Users of all four client devices may participate in the same online poker tournament, and rankings of users in the first and second sets may be determined based on results of the tournament. One or more award amounts for each of the sets may be computed based on the buy-in amounts and the rankings, and notifications of award amounts may be transmitted to client devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server system for managing an online poker tournament allowing joint play between users posting different buy-in amounts, the server system comprising:
 at least one communication interface configured to communicate over a network with a plurality of client devices including at least a first client device, a second client device, a third client device, and a fourth client device,   at least one processor, and   at least one processor-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, via the at least one communication interface, data transmissions indicating buy-in amounts to participate in the online poker tournament from at least the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device, wherein a buy-in amount from the first client device and a buy-in amount from the second client device are different from a buy-in amount from the third client device and a buy-in amount from the fourth client device; 
 associate, based on the buy-in amounts, the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device in a first set of client devices, and the third client device and the fourth client device in a second set of client devices; 
 manage administration of the online poker tournament, in communication with the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device via the at least one communication interface; 
 determine, based on results of the administered online poker tournament, first set rankings of users of the first set of client devices, and second set rankings of users of the second set of client devices; 
 compute, based on the buy-in amounts and the first set rankings, one or more first set award amounts; 
 compute, based on the buy-in amount from the third client device, the buy-in amount from the fourth client device, and the second set rankings, one or more second set award amounts; 
 transmit, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the first set award amounts to at least one client device of the first set of client devices; and 
 transmit, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the second set award amounts to at least one client device of the second set of client devices. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein managing administration of the online poker tournament comprises administering at least one hand in the online poker tournament in which users of the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device participate in a same hand. 
     
     
         3 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is less than each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device. 
     
     
         4 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is equal to a first buy-in amount, and each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device is equal to a second buy-in amount. 
     
     
         5 . The server system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 form a first set prizepool for the users of the first set of client devices from contributions of the first buy-in amount from the first set of client devices; and   form a second set prizepool for the users of the second set of client devices from contributions of a difference between the second buy-in amount and the first buy-in amount from the second set of client devices.   
     
     
         6 . The server system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to specify the first buy-in amount and the second buy-in amount, and to transmit notification of the specified first and second buy-in amounts to the plurality of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions indicating the buy-in amounts. 
     
     
         7 . The server system of  claim 6 , wherein specifying the first and second buy-in amounts comprises setting the second buy-in amount to be no greater than about double the first buy-in amount. 
     
     
         8 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to accept buy-in amounts indicated by the data transmissions, without specifying a particular buy-in amount for each set of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions. 
     
     
         9 . The server system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to reject or reduce a buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions that is greater than about double another buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions. 
     
     
         10 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to compute a different distribution of award amounts for the one or more first set award amounts than for the one or more second set award amounts, based on a different number of client devices being associated to the first set of client devices than to the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         11 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the second set rankings based on the first set rankings of the users of the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         12 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 compute a first set prizepool amount based at least in part on the combined buy-in amounts from the first and second client devices and at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices; and   transmit, via the at least one communication interface, notification of the first set prizepool amount to the first set of client devices.   
     
     
         13 . The server system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 compute a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount;   transmit, via the at least one communication interface, notification of the second set prizepool amount to the plurality of client devices; and   transmit to each client device of the plurality of client devices, via the at least one communication interface, notification of which of the first set and second set prizepool amounts the user of the respective client device is eligible to compete for.   
     
     
         14 . The server system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 compute a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount; and   transmit, via the at least one communication interface, notification of the second set prizepool amount to the third and fourth client devices, and not to the first and second client devices.   
     
     
         15 . The server system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to transmit to each of the plurality of client devices a list of users of client devices in one or more sets of client devices to which the respective client device is associated. 
     
     
         16 . A method for managing an online poker tournament allowing joint play between users posting different buy-in amounts, the method comprising:
 receiving, via at least one communication interface, data transmissions indicating buy-in amounts to participate in the online poker tournament from a plurality of client devices including at least a first client device, a second client device, a third client device, and a fourth client device, wherein a buy in amount from the first client device and a buy in amount from the second client device are different from a buy in amount from the third client device and a buy in amount from the fourth client device;   associating, based on the buy-in amounts, the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device in a first set of client devices, and the third client device and the fourth client device in a second set of client devices;   managing administration of the online poker tournament, via execution of stored instructions by at least one processor, in communication with the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device via the at least one communication interface;   determining, based on results of the administered online poker tournament, first set rankings of users of the first set of client devices, and second set rankings of users of the second set of client devices;   computing, via execution of the stored instructions by the at least one processor, based on the buy-in amounts and the first set rankings, one or more first set award amounts;   computing, via execution of the stored instructions by the at least one processor, based on the buy-in amount from the third client device, the buy-in amount from the fourth client device, and the second set rankings, one or more second set award amounts;   transmitting, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the first set award amounts to at least one client device of the first set of client devices; and   transmitting, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the second set award amounts to at least one client device of the second set of client devices.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein managing administration of the online poker tournament comprises administering at least one hand in the online poker tournament in which users of the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device participate in a same hand. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is less than each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is equal to a first buy-in amount, and each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device is equal to a second buy-in amount. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming a first set prizepool for the users of the first set of client devices from contributions of the first buy-in amount from the first set of client devices; and   forming a second set prizepool for the users of the second set of client devices from contributions of a difference between the second buy-in amount and the first buy-in amount from the second set of client devices.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising specifying the first buy-in amount and the second buy-in amount, and transmitting notification of the specified first and second buy-in amounts to the plurality of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions indicating the buy-in amounts. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein specifying the first and second buy-in amounts comprises setting the second buy-in amount to be no greater than about double the first buy-in amount. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising accepting buy-in amounts indicated by the data transmissions, without specifying a particular buy-in amount for each set of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising rejecting or reducing a buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions that is greater than about double another buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein computing the first and second set award amounts comprises computing a different distribution of award amounts for the one or more first set award amounts than for the one or more second set award amounts, based on a different number of client devices being associated to the first set of client devices than to the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining the first and second set rankings comprises determining the second set rankings based on the first set rankings of the users of the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 computing a first set prizepool amount based at least in part on the combined buy-in amounts from the first and second client devices and at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices; and   transmitting notification of the first set prizepool amount to the first set of client devices.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 computing a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount;   transmitting notification of the second set prizepool amount to the plurality of client devices; and   transmitting, to each client device of the plurality of client devices, notification of which of the first set and second set prizepool amounts the user of the respective client device is eligible to compete for.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 computing a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount; and   transmitting notification of the second set prizepool amount to the third and fourth client devices, and not to the first and second client devices.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising transmitting to each of the plurality of client devices a list of users of client devices in one or more sets of client devices to which the respective client device is associated. 
     
     
         31 . At least one processor-readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for managing an online poker tournament allowing joint play between users posting different buy-in amounts, the method comprising:
 receiving, via at least one communication interface, data transmissions indicating buy-in amounts to participate in the online poker tournament from a plurality of client devices including at least a first client device, a second client device, a third client device, and a fourth client device, wherein a buy in amount from the first client device and a buy in amount from the second client device are different from a buy in amount from the third client device and a buy in amount from the fourth client device;   associating, based on the buy-in amounts, the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device in a first set of client devices, and the third client device and the fourth client device in a second set of client devices;   managing administration of the online poker tournament, in communication with the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device via the at least one communication interface;   determining, based on results of the administered online poker tournament, first set rankings of users of the first set of client devices, and second set rankings of users of the second set of client devices;   computing, based on the buy-in amounts and the first set rankings, one or more first set award amounts;   computing, based on the buy-in amount from the third client device, the buy-in amount from the fourth client device, and the second set rankings, one or more second set award amounts;   transmitting, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the first set award amounts to at least one client device of the first set of client devices; and   transmitting, via the at least one communication interface, notification of at least one of the second set award amounts to at least one client device of the second set of client devices.   
     
     
         32 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein managing administration of the online poker tournament comprises administering at least one hand in the online poker tournament in which users of the first client device, the second client device, the third client device, and the fourth client device participate in a same hand. 
     
     
         33 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is less than each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device. 
     
     
         34 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein each of the buy-in amounts from the first client device and the second client device is equal to a first buy-in amount, and each of the buy-in amounts from the third client device and the fourth client device is equal to a second buy-in amount. 
     
     
         35 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the method further comprises:
 forming a first set prizepool for the users of the first set of client devices from contributions of the first buy-in amount from the first set of client devices; and   forming a second set prizepool for the users of the second set of client devices from contributions of a difference between the second buy-in amount and the first buy-in amount from the second set of client devices.   
     
     
         36 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the method further comprises specifying the first buy-in amount and the second buy-in amount, and transmitting notification of the specified first and second buy-in amounts to the plurality of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions indicating the buy-in amounts. 
     
     
         37 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein specifying the first and second buy-in amounts comprises setting the second buy-in amount to be no greater than about double the first buy-in amount. 
     
     
         38 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises accepting buy-in amounts indicated by the data transmissions, without specifying a particular buy-in amount for each set of client devices prior to receiving the data transmissions. 
     
     
         39 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the method further comprises rejecting or reducing a buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions that is greater than about double another buy-in amount indicated in the data transmissions. 
     
     
         40 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein computing the first and second set award amounts comprises computing a different distribution of award amounts for the one or more first set award amounts than for the one or more second set award amounts, based on a different number of client devices being associated to the first set of client devices than to the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         41 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein determining the first and second set rankings comprises determining the second set rankings based on the first set rankings of the users of the second set of client devices. 
     
     
         42 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 computing a first set prizepool amount based at least in part on the combined buy-in amounts from the first and second client devices and at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices; and   transmitting notification of the first set prizepool amount to the first set of client devices.   
     
     
         43 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 42 , wherein the method further comprises:
 computing a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount;   transmitting notification of the second set prizepool amount to the plurality of client devices; and   transmitting, to each client device of the plurality of client devices, notification of which of the first set and second set prizepool amounts the user of the respective client device is eligible to compete for.   
     
     
         44 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 42 , wherein the method further comprises:
 computing a second set prizepool amount based at least in part on at least portions of the buy-in amounts from the third and fourth client devices not included in the first set prizepool amount; and   transmitting notification of the second set prizepool amount to the third and fourth client devices, and not to the first and second client devices.   
     
     
         45 . The at least one processor-readable storage medium of  claim 42 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting to each of the plurality of client devices a list of users of client devices in one or more sets of client devices to which the respective client device is associated.